First Cut

14 January 2011

Channel 4's critically acclaimed First Cut strand launched in November 2007 as an eclectic documentary strand to showcase the best in bold, bright and original documentaries by up-and-coming filmmakers and is currently in its fourth year.

The winter 2011 run of films starts with The Pawn King which, directed by Kirsty Garland, provides a fascinating insight into the pawn-broking business.  The film paints a portrait of Paul Aitken, founder of online pawnbroker Borro, and the people who are coming to him in ever increasing numbers to pawn their most treasured possessions. Paul Aitken's vaults boast Ferraris, Porsches, Banksys and even a Picasso. Bought during the boom years, these items are now an easy way for their owners to get quick cash. Paul claims to be transforming pawn-broking's shady image, but with interest rates many times those of the banks, is he just making money from other people's misery?  The Pawn King introduces us to Paul, his business and five pawners with very different stories. 

Other films in the run include - Head Over Heels in Rat, directed by Jenny Popplewell, this film follows the Rattrays, a big family with a difference - all but two of the family members are rats.  Kate and Kevin Rattray are members of the Yorkshire Rat Club and are keen rat enthusiasts.  Their brood began with just two rats in 2006 and has since grown to a whopping 27.  Having never had the maternal instinct for children, Kate and Kevin describe themselves as a ‘weird couple, with no kids but lots of rats' and being a parent to so many furry critters can be an emotional rollercoaster.  This film explores the Rattray's unique household and the couple's unconventional love affair with rats.  From losing a beloved member of the family to throwing birthday parties and the elation of gaining a new baby rat this is a portrait of a very different couple, who in many ways are exactly the same as any loving parents. 

Welcome to Romford, directed by Simon Smith, provides fascinating insight into riotous Romford minicab firm, A1 Taxis.  The life of a cabbie is never dull.  On a Friday night in Romford, the drivers of A1 Taxis get all sorts of people in the back of their cab.  This First Cut introduces us to some of these colourful characters; from a young couple on the way back from their "wedding on the cheap" to a man found lying in the middle of the road, a couple who have just met on the internet, jealous couples, reunited couples and couples who cannot wait to get home.  Plus desperate young men, lonely old men and everyone else between, this film explores relationships, friendships, love and loneliness in Romford.  Using a two camera, split screen technique Welcome to Romford features the simultaneous, real-time reactions of the cabbies and their passengers.

Anna Llewellyn directs Father Ray Comes Out, a film that follows the journey of Father Ray, an Anglican priest, who has decided to share a very personal secret with his congregation, the fact that he is gay.  Ray is a warm, gregarious vicar who has been leading his central London parish for three years. He clearly has a calling and has transformed his parish, building a community in central London where many struggle with feelings of anonymity.  Ray and the parishioners have had their ups and downs but on the whole they have built a warm and loving church. Now Ray is prepared to jeopardise all his work for the truth. He has decided that in order to be a good minister he must be honest with his parish.   But admitting homosexuality as a vicar is not straightforward and Ray knows he risks alienating the some of very people he considers his friends.    This First Cut film observes Ray as he deals with the fallout from his sermon and as he discovers whether or not his words have sewn the seeds for a greater understanding and tolerance he dearly hopes for.

Made In England, directed by Satnam Authi provides a unique insight into a clothing factory business in Salford.  Cooper and Stollbrand is one of the last clothing factories in Salford. The factory was taken over three years ago when James Eden left his lucrative job in the City to buy a stake in the business. Since taking over, James has dragged the factory out of the doldrums and into the 21st century, developing a business that produces garments for high street retailers and premium designer labels.  This First Cut visits Cooper and Stollbrand during one of their busiest business periods - the run up to Christmas - and provides an intimate look at the factory floor through the eyes of football mad Jean and perfectionist Dot.

Lucy Kaye's touching First Cut film, Teen Horse Whisperers, examines the innovative approach that an alternative school, in Liverpool, has taken to help deal with some of their students' behavioural issues - these pupils will be given two months to tame wild horses.  Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary is a charitable organisation run by Bernadette who has devoted her life to rescuing and nurturing unwanted horses.  Shy Lowen has recently rescued a group of wild horses who were due to be shot in a yearly cull and these horses now need to be tamed before they can be integrated with the rest of the herd.   Seven pupils from Impact, an alternative school in Bootle, Liverpool will have two months to tame these wild horses by attending the centre twice a week, where they will try to build relationships with the horses.  This First Cut follows the pupils' journey as they attempt to bond with the horses and work through their issues with the help of Shy Lowen.  

Asian Gracefully, directed by Fozia Khan provides an intimate look behind the doors of Aashna House, a residential care home exclusively for Asian elderly. In Asian culture old people are generally looked after by their families and care homes for elderly Asian people are extremely rare.  But they do exist. Aashna House is one of the few care homes of its kind in the country.   This First Cut introduces some of the care home's residents and staff with a unique glimpse into life at Aashna House.  It delves into the residents back stories and looks at how they came to be in the care home.  Mr Sen is one such resident.  He has a colourful past, having worked as an extra in James Bond films with stars such as Sean Connery and Roger Moore, but now Mr Sen now finds himself alone at the care home.  And then there is Mrs Ramjee.  She lost her short term memory after a stroke and now lives a groundhog-day existence in Aashna House.

Britain's green and pleasant land is protected by a complex web of planning laws, and it is a brave and determined person who dares to challenge the system. Planning Outlaws directed by Melody Howse, is a very British film that tells the story of three such individuals who have taken on planning regulators with extraordinary and sometimes disastrous consequences. This film introduces Jim who built a straw bale house on agricultural land. He had planning permission for it to be an educational centre but loved the house so much he decided to live in it instead.  Jim has spent the past four years fighting to keep his home. Then there is Mr Gulzar who erected six foot stone lions on the ancient Pevensey Marshes without planning permission.  Mr Gulzar faces a community at odds with his tastes and the vandalism of his beloved lions.  And 76 year-old Mrs Nicole Harper who watches in horror as the granny flat her son built for her is demolished for violating planning regulations.  As these people fight to the bitter end to defend their structures, we chart the highs and lows that challenging the planning system can bring.